Fort Lauderdale, FL — The Dillard (Fort Lauderdale) Panthers came into Friday night’s matchup undefeated and ready to take that next step to prominence but had to get through five-time state champion Miami Central to do so. Unfortunately for the home team, that return to the state championship game will have to wait. Central forced five turnovers and shut out Dillard 35-0 in front of a standing room only crowd to advance to the 6A state semifinals. After losing to defending 3A state champion Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) 27-7 in the regular-season finale, the Rockets have outscored their playoff opponents 129-23.
“I told my kids, playing the kinda schedule that we play, we’re not going to see teams like that in the postseason,” said Head Coach Roland Smith. “They are not battle-tested like we’ve been battle-tested.”
Post Game Interview: @Roc__Nation Head Coach Roland Smith said his team was battle tested throughout the season and his opponent Friday night was not battle tested. Miami Central shuts down Dillard 35-0 behind 5 turnovers forced. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/7bEVveSpUP
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) November 23, 2019
Central started the season with a blowout loss to St. Francis (MD) currently ranked 5th nationally, but have quality regular-season wins against playoff teams Miami Booker T. Washington and Miami Carol City. Many spectators wondered if the Rockets would make a run for a state title after losing to both Chaminade and Miami Northwestern by double digits this season, but after three blowout wins in this 2019 postseason, skepticism of what this Central team is made of is put to rest for now.
Dillard struggled to get consistency on offense for the entire contest. The Central defense shut down the Panther running game forcing senior quarterback Zamir Jones to make plays under pressure. Junior athlete Yulkeith Brown registered the first turnover of the game with an interception in the first quarter.
The Gulliver mid-season transfer played both offense and defense and had several pass break-ups and catches on offense in addition to the INT.
“He goes both ways for us and does a tremendous job for us,” said Coach Smith. “That was a key turnover in the game to ignite us to get everything rolling.”
Also in the first quarter, seniors Katravis Marsh and Geo Ribalta connected on a 56-yard touchdown to start the scoring onslaught. Junior running back Amari Daniels would add to Central’s total with an 8-yard touchdown run as the visitors would take a 14-0 lead into halftime.
To start the second half, Dillard’s Frantz Jean tried to give his team a spark by ripping the ball away from the Central ball carrier to give his offense the ball in Rocket territory. On the very next play, however, Central would strip the ball of a Panther ball carrier and defender Wesley Bissainthe recovered the loose football to flip possession. Later in the half, Bissanthe would get another turnover, this time with an interception thrown directly to him. The sophomore would return the football to the ten-yard line and Daniels would score his second touchdown of the game making it 21-0 in the third quarter. The Rocket’s running game of Daniels and senior running back Kejon Owens would combine for 144 yards rushing.
Later in the third, Marsh would throw his second touchdown pass of the game. The senior QB found Miami Commit Chamon Metayar on a fade route in the corner of the end zone for a red-zone touchdown. Metayer out jumped the defender for the ball and the visiting crowd erupted. Marsh went 9 for 12 for 163 yards and the two touchdowns and zero turnovers.
Junior two-way player and @CanesFootball commit @ChamonMetayer catches this one from senior @Roc__Nation QB @trill_kav to make it a 28-0 game over Dillard. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/nDcixoC89B
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) November 23, 2019
“This chemistry has been building all year,” said Metayer about his bond with his quarterback. “It ain’t no 50/50 ball it’s a 100/0 ball. That’s how I feel.”
The Rockets would add a defensive score to put a bow on the regional final. Freshman Rueben Bain scooped another forced fumble and rumbled his way to the end zone. The score would create a running clock in the third quarter. Junior Aaron Honer would also have a fumble recovery for the Dade County visitors.
Miami Central won four state championships in a row from 2012 to 2015 but was stopped by Dade County rivals Miami Carol City who won the title in 2016 and Miami Northwestern who brought home titles in 2017 and 2018 in class 6A. This year, both Northwestern and Carol City left class 6A to join class 5A and 4A leaving the Rockets with a path to get back to their state championship ways.
The Panthers last appeared in the state semifinals in 2001 and lost in the playoffs the last four years to Dade County opponents. Last year, Dillard lost to Central 35-20 and lost to Miami Carol City in the first round in the previous three years. This is Dillard’s 31st appearance in the state playoffs, but the Panthers have only one state championship in 1989 and last appeared in the state championship game in 2000.
Miami Central will travel to the west coast of Florida to take on Palmetto. Palmetto were big 62-15 winners over Charlotte and will host the Rockets next week. Escambia (Pensacola) and Gaither (Tampa) are on the other side of the bracket.
“Our season is not done,” said Coach Smith. “We got a great team we gotta play next week in Palmetto but we look forward to that challenge.”
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